Plus size model helps recreate Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

Plus size model Tess Holliday boldly strutted down the catwalk in racy lingerie, joining other women of various ethnicities, sizes and shapes as part of BuzzFeed’s recreation of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

“I walked the runway in my diiiiiivine @catherinedlish dressing gown & my undies!” The size 22 model wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of her in a sheer red Catherine D’lish dressing gown and a black matching panty and bra set.

“I’ve never been the kind of model that gets to be part of runway shows, especially lingerie because of my size & height but I did the damn thing.”

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Preparing to strut down the walkway. BuzzFeedYellow

Tress prepares to strut down the runway. Credit: BuzzFeedYellow

Holliday, who gave birth to her second child six months ago, said she hoped to gain a bit of bravery by doing the show.

“I’ve definitely never walked the runway in my underwear ever because no one’s given me an opportunity,” the fiery redhead said in an on-camera interview at the event. “I was definitely really nervous to show my stomach, because I don’t really ever show this much of my stomach, especially because I have a five-and-a-half-month old baby.”

But by the time the show began, her confidence rose.

“My husband was cheering me on in the back & even though I was terrified, damn if it wasn’t liberating!” She wrote on Instagram. Her post received well over 27,000 likes and hundreds of supportive comments from across the globe in less than 24 hours.

xxselina01xx: Thank you! That’s all that needs to be said @tesshollidayr8rette_panda_1vy_7o7I: watched it and loved it! Thank you Tess for your bravery and teaching us how to lovd ourselves in front of the world!sweetd503Sooooo: amazing!!!! i got a little emotional watchingcaitlincalestani9: That’s so amazing! Looks like it must have been such an experience! You are amazing Tess! I admire you so much!

BuzzFeed produced the show to help showcase the diversity of real women.

“It’s safe to say that there is a Victoria’s Secret “type” of model,” BuzzFeed staff wrote. “The women are usually all cisgender, with long hair…extremely tall, and of course, thin. But if you look around you, you’ll see the beauty in the everyday woman.”

Holliday agrees, stating that the show was “full of diversity, the way VS shows should be.”